Even the US Customs guy at the New Jersey airport gave me an approving nod: "A technology for hydroponics?" He flips over my business invitation from the NY company to see if there wasn't something inside. "Well, you know, it's still," in a fake finger-wagging voice, "...illegal here?" he says, waiting for my reply.

I founded a startup almost 2 years ago while working in New York City full-time for a small asset management firm. At the time I was spending most hours volunteering and leveraging roughly 80 percent of my talents and strengths outside the workplace for non-profit organizations.

It's been hailed as the future of farming: it uses less water (up to 90 percent less than traditional gardening), doesn't attract soil-based bugs and produces two types of produce (both plants and fish).